RINL, which operates the Vizag steel plant has been forced to cut down production to 30%, with incessant rains in the past one week affecting its raw material stocks.

Even as the sun came out on Monday, RINL officials said it will take another week for the plant to get back on is rails. RINL's captive port Gangavaram has been completely non-operational in the past week due to heavy rains.

Raw material supplies, including iron ore coal and coking coal were affected from Gangavaram and Visakhapatnam (Vizag) ports as operations at the two ports came to standstill.

"We have been forced to slash its production to one third its normal level to keep all vital units of the plant in operation. Since both the ports were hit by the rains, supplies have been affected, forcing us to cut down production. In the past 4-5 days production level stands at 30% to 40%, a RINL official said.

"This is the first time in years that the plant suffered so miserably in the rains," the official added.